Clustered inlet particle separator

ABSTRACT

A particle separator for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The particle separator includes flow dividers operable to divide flow in a gas turbine engine particle separator and flow scavengers operable to scavenge flow in a gas turbine engine particle separator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/633,222 filed on Dec. 4, 2006 which was a continuation ofPCT Patent Application No. PCT/US06/023883 filed Jun. 20, 2006, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/692,428filed Jun. 20, 2005, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to particle separators and moreparticularly, but not exclusively, to inertial particle separators forapplication with gas turbine engines.

Particle separators are operable to separate undesirable materials fromair entering a turbine engine. Such undesirable materials may adverselyaffect the internal working components of the gas turbine engine if theywere allowed to enter the engine. Presently, many particle separatordesigns have a variety of shortcomings, drawbacks and disadvantages.Accordingly, there is a need for the unique and inventive particleseparators according to the present invention.

SUMMARY

One embodiment according to the present invention is a unique particleseparator for a gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include uniqueapparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations ofthese for particle separation in gas turbine engines. Furtherembodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefitsof the present invention shall become apparent from the followingdescription and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a gas turbine engine and a particleseparator operatively coupled thereto.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of one embodiment of a particleseparator for use in connection with a gas turbine engine.

FIG. 3 is a schematic end view of a plurality of inlet particleseparators.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative partial sectional view of one of the pluralityof particle separators of the schematic of FIG. 3 taken along the line4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative partial sectional view of one of the pluralityof particle separators of the schematic of FIG. 3 taken along the line5-5 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention is illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

With reference to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a block diagram depictinga gas turbine engine 10 operatively coupled with an inertial particleseparator 11. The particle separator 11 is arranged to separate matter,such as, but not limited to sand, dust, dirt, liquids, and/or anyparticulate matter, all of which are referred to as particles, from theair that passes through the particle separator 11 to an inlet of the gasturbine engine 10. In one form the particle separator 11 is incorporatedinto an aircraft. The term aircraft includes, but is not limited to,helicopters, airplanes, unmanned space vehicles, fixed wing vehicles,variable wing vehicles and others. Further, the present inventions arecontemplated for utilization in other applications that may not becoupled with an aircraft such as, for example, industrial applications,power generation, pumping sets, naval propulsion, hover crafts, vehiclesand other applications known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

With reference to FIG. 2, there is set forth an illustrative partialsectional view of one embodiment of the particle separator 11. In oneform the particle separator 11 is symmetrical about the centerline X.Particle separator 11 may be symmetrical about an engine centerline XXor may be offset therefrom. The particle separator 11 has an inlet 20extending around the particle separator 11 and which is adapted to allowthe passage of air therein. The inflow of air entering the inlet 20 mayinclude other material and contaminants such as but not limited to sand,dirt, dust, liquids, foreign objects and or any other particular matter.Inlet 20 may take on a variety of cross sectional shapes andconfigurations, for example, annular, polygonal, circular, kidney, oval,parabolic, tear or eye shaped, and a variety of other configurations,including those which are partially, substantially, essentially,approximately, or nearly in conformance with the foregoing, and alsoincluding combinations and blends of the foregoing.

The flow of air passing through the inlet 20 and into the particleseparator 11 is divided into three flow streams that pass throughflowpaths 21, 22 and 23 which are preferably annular but can be of avariety of other shapes and configurations such as those mentionedabove. Flowpaths 21, 22 and 23 are spaced radially apart. Dividers 24and 25 divide the inlet flowpath into separated flowpaths 21, 22 and 23that each receive a respective air flow stream 26, 27 and 28. Dividers24 and 25 are preferably annular, but can be of a variety of othercross-sectional shapes such as those mentioned above. In one form theparticle separator includes the three flowpaths 21, 22 and 23 that arerelatively tightly clustered in a radial direction. In other forms theflow paths can include a variety of other shapes, spacings,configurations, and forms including, for example, those mentioned above.In the illustrated embodiment flowpaths 21, 22 and 23 each include acurved branched portion that facilitates the separation of materialsand/or particles from the respective air flow stream.

The inertia of the materials and/or particles in the air flow stream 26tends to cause the particles and/or materials to flow through an opening30 into an outer scavenge conduit 31. Scavenge conduit 31 extends aroundthe particle separator 11 and, in addition to the illustratedembodiment, could assume a variety of shapes, dimensions,configurations, and forms adapted for receiving particles and/ormaterials from the air flow within the particle separator. The inertiaof the materials and/or particles in the flow stream 27 tends to causethe particles and/or materials to flow through an opening 32 into aninner scavenge conduit 33. The inner scavenge conduit 33 extends aroundthe particle separator 11 and is adapted for receiving particles and/ormaterials from the air flow within the particle separator 11.

The inertia of the materials and/or particles in the flow stream 28tends to cause the particles and/or materials to flow through an opening35 into the inner scavenge conduit 33. The particles and/or materialsfrom the air flow streams 28 and 27 within flowpaths 23 and 22 ismigrated into the inner scavenge conduit 33 and the particles and/ormaterials from air flow stream 26 within flowpath 21 is migrated intothe outer scavenge conduit 31. The clean air flow passes throughpassageways 40, 41 and 42 to the inlet of the gas turbine engine 10. Thereader will understand that clean is a relative term and the air flowpassing through passageways 40, 41 and 42 may contain some contaminantsand/or particulate matter. A variety of different interconnectionsbetween engine 10 and particle separator 11 are contemplated. Forexample, with a direct interconnection or coupling, or with one or moreintermediate structures. The term scavenged and/or scavenged air will beutilized herein to also refer to the separated material and/or particlesand the air including the separated material and/or particles.

In the illustrated embodiment particles entering flowpath 21 tend toencounter the radially outer surface of that flowpath, and, due to atendency to avoid changes in direction, tend to travel along thatsurface resulting in their being scavenged as described above. Particlesentering flowpath 22 tend to encounter the radially inner surface ofthat flowpath, and, due to a tendency to avoid changes in direction,tend to travel along that surface resulting in their being scavenged asdescribed above. Particles entering flowpath 23 tend to encounter theradially outer surface of that flowpath, and, due to a tendency to avoidchanges in direction, tend to travel along that surface resulting intheir being scavenged as described above. Let it be understood, however,that the illustrated embodiment is only one example according to thepresent invention.

In one form of the present invention at least one strut or conduit 60extends across the clean air flow path 61 to provide a material flowpath for the materials and/or particles in inner scavenge conduit 33.The conduit 60 allows the materials and/or particles to flow from theinner scavenge conduit 33 to the outer scavenge conduit 31. In one formthe present invention includes a plurality of conduits 60 for providingthe material flow path for the removal of the accumulated materialsand/or particles. The materials and/or particles are discharged from theouter scavenge conduit 31 away from the inlet particle separator 11. Inone aspect the conduits 60 may also function as a structural member(s)between the annular flowpath defining walls. In another form of thepresent invention a plurality of struts allow for the passage of thematerials and/or particles radially inward from the conduits 31 and 33where they meet and flow through a central passage to be discharged fromthe particle separator 11 away from the engine inlet.

With reference to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a schematic end view ofan inlet particle unit 100 including a plurality of inlet particleseparators 11. In one form the inlet particle unit 100 is placed aroundthe front annulus of a gas turbine engine compressor. In one form thereare five inlet particle separators 11 located around the centerline ofthe compressor shaft C. However, the present invention contemplates thatthe particle separator may be used singularly or in a clustered manner.The quantity of particle separators clustered in the inlet particle unitcan vary based upon many factors including the need, operatingenvironment and/or size of the gas turbine engine.

With reference to FIG. 4, there is depicted an illustrative partialsectional view of one of the plurality of particle separators of theschematic of FIG. 3, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2. Certainfeatures shown in FIG. 4 are labeled with reference numerals identicalto those used above. The description provided above will enable thereader to review the figure and obtain a further appreciation of aspectsof the present inventions.

With reference to FIG. 5, there is depicted an Illustrative partialsectional view of one of the plurality of particle separators of theschematic of FIG. 3 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2. Certain featuresshown in FIG. 5 are labeled with reference numerals identical to thoseused above. The description provided above will enable the reader toreview the figure and obtain a further appreciation of aspects of thepresent inventions.

One form of the present invention contemplates an apparatus comprising:a gas turbine engine including an engine inlet; and a plurality ofparticle separators in flow communication with said engine inlet, eachof said particle separators comprising: a flow inlet adapted to receiveair flow therein; two flow dividers operable to divide the air flow fromthe inlet; and three flow scavengers for scavenging a portion of the airflow from said dividers. Another form of the apparatus further includesthat each of said particle separators includes three radially spacedflowpaths, and each of said scavengers is in flow communication with oneof said radially spaced flowpaths. Another form of the apparatus furtherincludes an inner scavenge duct and an outer scavenge duct, each of saidscavenge ducts is disposed in flow communication with at least one ofsaid scavengers. Another form of the apparatus further includes an innerscavenge duct and an outer scavenge duct, each of said scavenge ducts isdisposed in flow communication with at least one of said scavengers andwhich further includes a material flow conduit disposed between saidinner scavenge duct and said outer scavenge duct, said material flowconduit adapted for the passage of a quantity of the portion of airscavenged from said scavenger. In another form of the apparatus saidparticle separators are inertial particle separators, said flow inlet issubstantially annular, and said flow dividers are substantially annular.In another form of the apparatus one flow divider tends to directmaterial flow toward a substantially radially outward facing surface andat least one other flow divider tends to direct material toward asubstantially radially inward facing surface.

Another form of the present invention contemplates an inertial particleseparator for separating material entrained in a flow of air,comprising: a centerbody; an outer wall extending circumferentiallyaround said centerbody; a flowpath defined between said outer wall andsaid centerbody; a pair of flow directors located within said flowpathand separating at least a portion of said flowpath into three radiallyspaced flowpaths; and a plurality of flow splitters, one of saidplurality of flow splitters disposed in flow communication with each ofsaid three radially spaced flowpaths. Another form of the particleseparator further includes a first receiving duct disposed in flowcommunication with two of said three radially spaced flowpaths; and asecond receiving duct disposed in flow communication with the other ofsaid three radially spaced flowpaths. Another form of the particleseparator includes a first receiving duct disposed in flow communicationwith two of said three radially spaced flowpaths; and a second receivingduct disposed in flow communication with the other of said threeradially spaced flowpaths and a material flow passageway connectedbetween said first receiving duct and said second receiving duct. Yetanother form of the particle separator includes a first receiving ductdisposed in flow communication with two of said three radially spacedflowpaths; and a second receiving duct disposed in flow communicationwith the other of said three radially spaced flowpaths and a materialflow passageway connected between said first receiving duct and saidsecond receiving duct and said first receiving duct is defined as aninner duct and said second receiving duct is defined as an outer duct,said inner duct located radially inward of said outer duct. Yet anotherform of the particle separator includes a first receiving duct disposedin flow communication with two of said three radially spaced flowpaths;and a second receiving duct disposed in flow communication with theother of said three radially spaced flowpaths and a material flowpassageway connected between said first receiving duct and said secondreceiving duct and said first receiving duct is defined as an inner ductand said second receiving duct is defined as an outer duct, said innerduct located radially inward of said outer duct and wherein said threeradially spaced flowpaths defines an inner, intermediate and outerflowpath; wherein said inner duct is in flow communication with saidinner and intermediate flowpaths; wherein said three radially spacedflowpaths are annular. Another form of the particle separator includeswherein one of said pair of flow directors has a blunt upstream end. Inyet another form the particle separator includes that each of said flowdirectors has an upstream end, and one of said upstream ends is locatedfore the other of said upstream ends. In yet another form the particleseparator further includes an output for discharging particles from theparticle separator. In yet another form the particle separator of claim7 includes that the flowpaths are substantially annular. In yet anotherform of the particle separator one of the flow directors has arelatively blunt upstream flow director end, another of the flowdirectors has a relatively pointed upstream flow director end, and oneof said upstream flow director ends is located fore the other of saidupstream flow director ends.

Another form of the present invention contemplates a method comprising:flowing a fluid through an intake of a gas turbine engine particleseparator; separating the fluid into three radially spaced fluid flowsthat are defined as a first flow amount, a second flow amount and athird flow amount; routing the first flow amount through a first flowpassage, the second flow amount through a second flow passage, and thethird flow amount through a third flow passage; and scavenging a portionof the first flow amount, a portion of the second flow amount, and aportion of the third flow amount. Another method further includeswherein the routing is accomplished at least in part by first and secondmeans for routing flowing fluid. In yet another method there is furtherincluded that said scavenging is accomplished at least in part by meansfor scavenging particulate matter of a flowing fluid. In yet anothermethod there is further includes wherein said routing is accomplished atleast in part by first and second means for routing flowing fluid; saidscavenging is accomplished at least in part by means for scavengingparticulate of a flowing fluid, the means for scavenging operates basedupon inertia of particles; and further comprises routing scavengedmatter to an outlet.

Another form of the present invention contemplates an apparatuscomprising: a gas turbine engine including an engine inlet; and aninertial particle separator in flow communication with said engineinlet, said particle separator comprising: an inlet air flow path; twoannular flow dividers operable to divide at least a portion of the inletair flow path into radially spaced annular flow paths; and three flowscavengers for scavenging a portion of the air flow from said annularflow paths.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and thatall changes and modifications that come within the spirit of theinventions are desired to be protected. It should be understood thatwhile the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or morepreferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature sodescribed may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary andembodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope ofthe invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. Inreading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,”“at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intentionto limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to thecontrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “aportion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire itemunless specifically stated to the contrary.

What is claimed is:
 1. An inertial particle separator for separating material entrained in a flow of air, comprising: a centerbody; an outer wall extending circumferentially around said centerbody; a flowpath defined between said outer wall and said centerbody; a pair of flow directors located within said flowpath and separating at least a portion of said flowpath into three radially spaced flowpaths; a plurality of flow splitters, one of said plurality of flow splitters disposed in flow communication with each of said three radially spaced flowpaths; a first receiving duct disposed in flow communication with two of said three radially spaced flowpaths; and a second receiving duct disposed in flow communication with at least one of said three radially spaced flowpaths.
 2. The particle separator of claim 1, which further includes a material flow passageway connected between said first receiving duct and said second receiving duct.
 3. The particle separator of claim 2, wherein said first receiving duct is defined as an inner duct and said second receiving duct is defined as an outer duct, said inner duct located radially inward of said outer duct.
 4. The particle separator of claim 3, wherein said three radially spaced flowpaths defines an inner, intermediate and outer flowpath; wherein said inner duct is in flow communication with said inner and intermediate flowpaths; wherein said three radially spaced flowpaths are annular.
 5. The particle separator of claim 1, wherein one of said pair of flow directors has a blunt upstream end.
 6. The particle separator of claim 1, wherein each of said flow directors has an upstream end, and one of said upstream ends is located fore the other of said upstream ends.
 7. The particle separator of claim 1, further comprising an output for discharging particles from the particle separator.
 8. The particle separator of claim 1, wherein the flowpaths are substantially annular.
 9. The particle separator of claim 1, wherein one of the flow directors has a relatively blunt upstream flow director end, another of the flow directors has a relatively pointed upstream flow director end, and one of said upstream flow director ends is located fore the other of said upstream flow director ends. 